Athletic Injuries

"Doctor explains everything in detail and made me feel very comfortable with the treatment plan. Finally back to running comfortably and it was all because of him!"

MARIA C. | JUN 08, 2023

Today, many children and adolescents play more than one sport in the same season or compete on “travel” teams that practice daily and play in tournaments almost every weekend. All this activity can place excessive stress on young feet that aren’t yet fully developed. Playing soccer and other sports that involve a lot of running on hard surfaces can lead to “overuse” injuries typified by stress or damage to growing bones, tendons and ligaments.

Board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, Ryan Vazales, DPM, DABFAS, FACFAS, understands the complexities of care and recovery goals of competitive athletes at all athletic levels and ages. Competitive and professional athletics in youth and adults can lead to a wide range of foot and ankle injuries that require specialized treatment, care, and rehabilitation for athletes to recover at peak performance.

Watch For Overuse Injuries

Never allow a child to play with pain, despite impassioned protests and what coaches and teammates might say. Foot or ankle pain isn’t normal. If it lasts more than a few days and interferes with walking, seek medical attention. Playing with pain is risky. It can lead to chronic and painful foot and ankle conditions and future problems with the knees and lower back.

Common problems that can result from too much sports activity include:

• Achilles tenonitis: The long tendon that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle becomes inflamed.
• Calcaneal apophysitis: Repetitive stress and muscle strain in the growth plate of the heel cause inflammation.
• Plantar fasciitis: The band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes gets inflamed and causes heel pain. Stress fractures: Repetitive pounding on foot and ankle bones causes hairline breaks.
• Tendo-Achilles bursitis: The fluid-filled sac between the Achilles tendon and the heel bone becomes inflamed.

Surgery is not typically necessary unless the injuries are severe, like if a tendon or ligament is fully ruptured. Dr. Vazales can also treat co-occurring injuries like fractures or cartilage tears.

What’s the difference between sprains and strains?

Sprains and strains are soft tissue injuries common in athletes, but they can happen to you regardless of your activity level. Dr. Vazales specializes in treating youth competitive athlete injuries using evidence-based techniques including both non-surgical and surgical options.

Sprains and strains are two similar types of injury that can happen when you overstretch or tear tissues in your musculoskeletal system. These can arise because of improper movements, overuse, or force of impact.

At Advanced Foot & Ankle of Virginia, Dr. Vazales can evaluate your injury and treat it according to its diagnosis:

• Sprains occur when you overstretch or tear a ligament. Ligaments are bands of tissue that connect bones within a joint. If you get an acute sprain, you might feel or hear a pop as the tissue tears.
• Strains happen when you overstretch or tear a tendon or muscle. Tendons are part of your muscles: they connect muscle to bone. 

What are the symptoms of sprains and strains?

Sprains and strains cause similar symptoms, so Dr. Vazales must investigate your injury with physical examination and may use other diagnostic procedures to identify the injury type.

Whether a sprain or strain happens rapidly or gradually, both injury types can cause:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Immobility
• Tenderness

Dr. Vazales can examine and identify sprains and strains using diagnostic technologies like ultrasound imaging, diagnostic blocks, and advanced imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans.

Dr. Vazales provides individualized care at Advanced Foot & Ankle of Virginia using evidence-based treatments. He specializes in foot and ankle sprains and strains, including ankle sprains and Achilles tendon ruptures which often happen while playing sports. Your treatment is based on your goals for recovery and the severity of your injury.

Your care plan for a strain or sprain might involve:

• Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)
• Physical therapy
• Activity modifications
• Splints or casts
• Medications

Surgery is not typically necessary for sprains and strains unless the injury is severe, like if a tendon or ligament is fully ruptures. Dr. Vazales can also treat co-occurring injuries like fractures or cartilage tears.

Dr. Vazales is well-versed in fracture care and post-traumatic foot and ankle pain. He treats a wide range of foot and ankle injuries, including achilles tendon rupture, high ankle sprains, sports related sprains, strains and fractures, and fractures from minor to severe.

Call Advanced Foot & Ankle of Virginia or schedule online for an athletic injury appointment today.